Kerala Plus Two English Textbook Flights of Freedom Questions and Answers Unit 1
“I am no bird and no net ensnares me; I am a free human being with an independent will”.
– Charlotte Bronte
About The Unit
There is an increasing realization and recognition that empowering women is an urgent need of the hour. In most countries, including India, social reformers and leaders have been doing a lot towards empowering women. Still, we have a lot more to do. In this unit, we see how education, determination, and courage help women break the chains of socio-cultural limitations. The Unit has a speech by Christine Lagarde, the first woman Finance Minister of France, a poem by Katharine Tynan, a story by Ashapurna Debi, and an anecdote by Sudha Murty.
Let’s Begin
- Look at the collage given below.
- Identify the personalities and the fields they are related to.
- What are they famous for?
Think And Discuss
Question 1.
Have you ever thought about the various roles taken by women in their homes and outside?
Answer:
Yes, I have. Women play major roles in their homes and also outside. India had a woman Prime Minister and a woman President. Currently, the President of the Indian National Congress is a woman. Women are working in the army, in the air force, and in the navy. They are piloting planes and making space flights. We will never forget Kalpana Chawla, the darling daughter of India who died in the Apollo 13 crash. Nowadays we don’t call women who do not go for outside jobs as housewives but as homemakers. In fact, they are not only homemakers but nation makers.
Question 2.
What are the challenges faced by women today?
Answer:
Women face many challenges today. They have less freedom than men. They are often discriminated against in education, job opportunities, and some other rights. Our society is male-dominated where women are considered second-class citizens. They don’t get equal pay with men even when they do similar jobs. To get married they have to pay dowries.
Question 3.
Are women equipped to meet those challenges?
Answer:
They are getting equipped as they get a better education and better job opportunities. Many measures are taken by the government to empower women. Things like dowries and female foeticide are forbidden by law. Hopefully, women will get their rightful places in the society in the very near future.
Read And Reflect
Emancipation and the empowerment of women is of prime importance in every society. In our country, we have achieved a partial success. But we have a long way to go. What should we do to achieve this goal? The speech below gives the requisites of women empowerment.